Valve mechanism for dispensing apparatus



PARATUS Sept. 29, 1959' VALVE MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING AP S s L 9 S 2 2-72517 Z :r Fvwnlv Ef Bratz, In

Sept. 29, 1959 F, E, BRETZ, JR 2,906,461

VALVE MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING APPARATUS Frank Ef Bratz, Jr.

Unlid States Patent Orte 2,906,451 Patented Sept. 29, 1S59 VALVE MECHANISM FR DISPENSIUNGv APPARATUS Application September 26,r 19555,v Serial No.. 53653432 9 Claims. (Cl. 239-123) yThis invention relates tofvalve mechanisms and more particularly to an improved valve for dispensing, in spray or aerosol form, materials lcontained under pressure. The valve mechanism herein is of the type set forth in my co-pending application Serial No. 457,769', now Patent No. 2,801,029, tiled September 22, 1954, of which this application'r is a continuation-impart.

The valve of the present invention is -a fication of the valve of the parent application.v Generally, the valve construction includes a spray tip or press button having a cleaning lug arranged to be actuated through and along certain flow orices to clean out any foreign or other matter lodged therein. Also, a valve stem, which the press button removably embraces, is so shaped as to provide` a longitudinally `extending flow passageway between the stern and button. Adjacent surfaces ofthe button and stem, at and adjacent the end of the stern, are shaped to provide expansion chamber and bow passageways s'o arranged as. yto direct eilluent streams ofaer'osol mixtures. in a circular path to provide a thorough mixture of materials and a more iinely divided ejection spray.

These features permit the use of viscous formulations which normally `cl'og ow passageways required yto be restricted in cross-section to effect a spray ejection.

An important object, then, of this invention is the provision of a dispensing valve mechanism which permits, with equal facility and uniform operation., the. vaporization and atomization of various. types of aerosol mixtures without being affected by the numerousV different solids oohemicals involved. v

Another object of the invention is the provision of a dispensing valve mechanism arranged to provide larger lsimplified modiy flow pas-sageways during the lling operation of an `applied container than are used diningl the. dispensing operation. Still another Object of the invention is. the prov1sion in a dispensing valve mechanism of asystem of flow orifices and passageways of such size and. position relative V to each other as to enhance the aerosol vaporization and atomization of a contained fluid during ythe ejection or dis.- charge thereof from the container. Y

Another and further object of the invention is the provision of a dispensing valve mechanism having iiow orifices directing eilluent streams of aerosol mixtures in a circular path in an expansion chamber immediately before ejection into the atmosphere. v

Another and still further object of this invention is. to provide a dispensing valve mechanism adapted to be actuated to clean certain internal ilow passageways and orifices and thereby maintain dispensing efficiency.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a. dispensing valve mechanism readily adapted for economical mass production without the use of soldering, welding, brazing or threading.A

A still further object of the invention is the provlsion of a dispensing valve mechanism which is simple in construction and highly eiiicient in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become. apparent from the followingdetailed description takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmental vertical cross-sectional view of the valve device of this invention shown as being mounted in a container;

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along a plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken along a plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure l and showing certain of the liow passageways at the `ejection nozzle;`

LFigure '4 is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken along a plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1 and showing the ilow passageways around the stem for directing streams of aerosol material against each other in an expansion chamber;

Figure 5 is 4a fragmental horizontal cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, showing the operative connection of the valve element and press button in Vtheir abuttingV seated engagement; r

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along a plane indicated by the line 6 6 of Figure 1 and illustrating the operative connection of the valve element and valve housing to .limit relative rotation therebetween;

Figure 7 is a plan View of the bottom face of the press button showing a cleaning lug thereon;l and,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of theupper end of the button, taken substantially at right angles tothe section illustrated in Figure l.V

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, the reference numeral 10designates a cup-shaped mounting cap for ja container designed for holding aerosol material under pressure.y At its upper edge, the top wall of the container cap is formed into an outwardly and downwardly extending bead 11. The container proper (not shown) may be assembled to the container cap in any desired fashion. One arrangement could be the forming of awall bead in the container to be complementally embraced in crimped engagement by the bead 11 of the cap. A central portion of the bottom 12 of the cap is shaped as an inverted cup 13 to provide an inwardly sloping shoulder 14 for a purpose to be described in ydetail later herein.. A central opening 15 is provided in the top wall of the c upy 13.

,The container and mounting cap may be made of any suitable material which will withstand internal pressures `exerted by the particular dispersant utilized as the propellant in the spray or aerosol composition to be contained. Usually, the material is metal.

A disc type gasket 16, formed of a suitable material ,suchV as natural or synthetic rubber, orthe like, is seated within the inverted cup 13 against the top wall thereof. A central opening 17 in the gasket is smaller than and concentric with the opening 15 in the retaining cap. A valve housing 18, preferably of metal or non-resilient plastic, lhas an outwardly extending flange 19 sized to seat in the container cap against the gasket 16. The sloping shoulder 14, formed after the gasket and housing are assembled in the cap, provides a crimp for holding the assembly in place and serve to maintain the housing flange in pressure engagement with the gasket. The gasket 16 is thereby retained within and squeezed into tight peripheral sealing engagement with adjacent walls of the container cap. An annular rib or sealing ring 20, on the upper surface of the housing ange 19, is impressed by pressure of the `crimp into the disc gasket thereby effecting a face sealing of the assembled parts.

The valve housing 18 has a tubular body 21 depending from'the flange and terminating at its lower end in a tubular section 22 having a flow opening 23 therein. The tubular section is adapted to receive one end of a flexible dip tube (not shown) designed to extend suciently into the container whereby contents are always ejected through the valve -from or near the bottom of the container.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 6, the tubular housing body 21 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced interior lugs or ribs 24, 24 extending along the bottom wall and vertically along the sidewall thereof. Each of the vertical ribs 24 is so shaped as to provide an intermediate and inwardly extending offset seat 24a. This is for a purpose to be defined later herein.

A cup-shaped valve body 25 is sized to fit loosely within the valve housing 18 between the lugs 24, 24. A pair of oppositely extending abutment lugs 26, 26 are provided on the valve body to engage opposite lugs 24, 24 to limit relative rotation of the valve body and the valve housing. Regardless of the position of the valve body when inserted in the valve housing, the lugs limit relative rotation to approximately one-quarter turn. Y

A boss 27, on the lower side of the valve body, is embraced by one end of a coiled spring 28 the other end of which seats on the horizontal portions of the ribs 24, 24. The inside wall surface 29 of the cup-shaped v valve body is sloped to provide a narrow seal rim 30. The coiled spring 28 normally urges the valve body into rim engagement with the gasket 16 to seal the interiors of both the valve and the container. When the spring is collapsed, the valve body is permitted to move to a position seated on the otset seats 24a, 24a of the ribs 24.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 5, a valve stem 31 extends from the cup portion of the valve body through the gasket 16 and the container cap opening 15.- A laterally extending slot 32 is provided 'u1 the bottom of the cup portion of the valve body at the base of the valve stem 31. This slot terminates intermediately between the stem and the sloped wall 29 of the valve body. Another slot 33 in the valve body, on the opposite side of the stem, extends from the stem to the sloped wall 29. A groove 34, concentric with the vertical axis of the valve, extends around the stem with its outer edge tangent to the outer end of the slot 32. The groove connects with the slot 33 intermediate the ends.

A spray tip or press button 35 has an axial bore 36 extending partially along its length to receive therein the valve stem 31. The main portion of the bore is of uniform diameter and terminates on one side of the valve axis in a shoulder 37. A portion 38 of the main bore, on

munication with the forward ends of the grooves 41 and 42. An ejection orifice 48 connects the expansion chamber 47 and an exterior spray opening 49 through which material is sprayed to the atmosphere.

The lower end of the press button is shaped to provide a cylindrical portion 50 which is tightly embraced by the disc gasket 16 when the press button is applied to the valve stem and the valve is in an inoperative position. When the press button is manually depressed to actuate the valve body through the stem, an outwardly flared portion 51 of the valve body is actuated into the central opening of the disc gasket thereby effecting a tighter seal during the flow of aerosol material from the container through the valve. As best shown in Figures l, 5 and 7, a cleaning lug 52 is formed on the lower end face of the press button and is so located as to be in alignment with the groove 34. Preferably, the lug is shaped to complementally engage the groove to clean the groove of any foreign or other matter lodged therein when the press button is rotated relative to the valve stem. It will be noted that the end of the button seats on the cup surface of the valve body and covers the groove 34.

The valve body and stem construction and the valve housing described herein may be formed of any suitable material but it ispreferred that they be of a rigid molded plastic such as nylon. The press button is also formed of a molded plastic, preferably a resilient plastic such as polyethylene. The particular material used should have the properties of rigidity with sufficient resilience to permit rotation of the press button relative to the valve stem and with adjacent surfaces thereof fitted suiciently close to engage with sealing effect.

Operation of the valve mechanism will now be described.

The vvalve mechanism of Figure l shows the relative position of the various parts in assembly and with the valve inoperative. To fill the container, the press button 35is removed from the stem. A mechanism for filling the other side of the valve axis, extends beyond the shoulder 37 and terminates in a shoulder 39. An axial bore 40, extending beyond the shoulders 37 and 39, is of reduced diameter and terminates in closely spaced relation to the top of the press button. Intermediate the ends of the reduced bore and opposite that portion of the main bore extended beyond the shoulder 37, there is provided circumferentially extending grooves 41 and 42 located in spaced relation lengthwise or axially of the stern.

The free end 43 of the stem 31 is sized to rotatably t within the reduced axial bore 40. When assembled, this structure `forms an expansion chamber 44 which is in flow communication with the inner ends of the spaced grooves 41 and 42. It will be noted that the re.- duced end 43 of the stem extends downwardly beyond the shoulder 37. As best shown in Figure 5, the side of the stem adjacent the base slot 32 has a flat surface 45 tangent to the outer periphery of the reduced end 43. A flow passageway 46 is thereby formed to extend between and connect the slot 32 and the expansion chamber 44 for flow communication.

Another expansion chamber 47 is located in that portion of the sidewall of the press button forming the reduced axial bore 40 and opposite the portion 38 of the main bore terminating in the shoulder 39. This second expansion chamber is so positioned as to be in flow comthe container is then applied around the valve stem and the aerosol material and propellant are injected under pressure. During injection, the coiled spring 28 collapses thereby permitting ymaterial to flow through the spaces between the valve stem and flexible disc, between the valve body and valve housing, between the ribs 24, 24, and directly into the container through the central channel 23 of the tubular portion 22. When the container is filled, a release of the filling vpressure effects a sealing of the valve housing by the rim engagement of the valve body and gasket through pressure exerted by the coiled spring.

It will be noted that all of the flow passageways during the filling operation are relatively large thereby effecting a quick and easy filling of the container.

The press button 35 is then applied to the valve stern 31 in seated engagement therewith in which the lower end of the button abuts the bottom face of the cup ofthe Valve body. The pressure required to snap the press button on the valve stem preferably should not overcome the compression of the coiled spring 28 and the internal pressure exerted by the contained aerosol mixture acting on the valve` body to help maintain it in sealing engagement with the gasket. It is desired, however, that the press fit of the button on the valve stem provide sufficient friction therebetween to eliminate the possibility of inadvertent removal.

The valve Vmechanism is now ready for operation to eject the aerosol mixture. When the press button is manually depressed to break the rim engagement of the valve body and the gasket, the flow channel through the valve from the container to the atmosphere is opened to ow. The pressurized aerosol mixture then ows through the channel 23 into the interior of the valve housing 21, between ribs 24, 24 around the valve body, and into the cup portion thereof. The material in the cup portion S and How passageway 46, and intol the mixing or expansion chamber 44. From the mixing or expansion chamber, the ow is through the spac'ed grooves 41 and 42, into themixing or expansion chamber 47, and through the orifice 48 into the atmosphere. t

In Figure is shown the relation of parts when th press button and valve body are connected for operation. It is desirable that the narrower cleaning lug 52 be locatedcentrally of the slot 33. In this position, fluid flow is toboth sides ofthe cleaning lug through the groove 34 and into the vertical channel 46v extending between the stern and press button. However,l if the cleaning lug'is located at any point along the length of the groove 34. on either side of the stem, iiow is effected to the slot 32 through the open portion of the groove on the other side of the stem. This cleaning feature is of particular importance where the aerosol mixture used in relatively viscous or is of a type whichI quicklyv solidies. By rotating the press button relative to the stem one complete turn, the groove 34 is cleaned along its entire length.

In Figure 8 is diagrammatically shown the relationship of the grooves 4l and 42 with respect to the mixing or expansion chamber 47. The groove 41 has entry to the chamber at the bottom thereof while the groove 42 -has entry at the top. The streams of material, entering the chamber through the grooves, rotate as shown by the arrows thereby effecting a more thorough mixing of the materials just prior to ejection into the atmosphere.

The provisions in a flow channel of a plurality of restricted orifices, such as the groove 34, the grooves 41 and 42, and the iiow oriiice 48, and of directing streams of material in a circular flow path as in the chamber 47, all aid in effecting a ner vapor'ization or atomization of the aerosol material than is possible to obtain in other dispensing valve mechanisms.

Although the invention has been described herein more or less precisely as to details, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby, as changes may be made in the arrangement and proportion of parts, and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. A valve mechanism comprising a movable valve element, said element having a cup-shaped body and a stern extending therefrom, an actuator button rotatably embracing said stem, said stem and button having a passageway system extending from the cup of the valve element and through the button to the exterior thereof, one portion of said passageway system forming a groove in the valve body, another portion of the system forming spaced grooves extending circumferentially of the stem, and a lug on said button arranged for movement through one of said grooves during rotation of the button on the stem.

2. A valve mechanism comprising a movable valve element, said element having a body and a stem extending therefrom, an actuator button rotatably embracing said stem, said stem and button having a passageway system extending from the body and through the button to the exterior thereof, one portion of said passageway system forming a groove in the valve body, another portion of the system forming spaced grooves extending circumferentially of the stem, and a lug on said button arranged for movement through one of said grooves during rotation of the button on the stern.

3. A valve mechanism comprising a movable valve element, said element having a cup-shaped body and a stern extending therefrom, an actuator button rotatably embracing said stem, said stem and button having a passageway system extending from the cup of the valve element and through the button to the exterior thereof, one portion of said passageway system forming a groove in the cup body of the valve element concentric with the rotatable axis of the button, another portion of the sys- 6 tem formingy a plurality of spaced grooves extending circumferentially ofthe stem and terminating in a common passageway,` and a lug on said button arranged for movement through said valve element groove during rotation of the button.

4. A valve mechanism comprising a cup-shaped valve body and an actuating stern extending therefrom, an actuator button arranged to rotatably embrace said stem, the stem and button having a flow passageway system therebetween extending from the body cup to the atmosphere, one portion of the passageway system forming a groove in the cupshaped body concentric with the rotating axis of the button and being covered by the button when embracing the stem, another portion of the passageway system connecting the concentric groove and the cup of the body to ilow therebetween, and a lug on said button shaped to complementally seat in and arranged to be moved through said concentric groove during rotation of the button.

5. A valve mechanism comprising a cup-shaped valve body and an actuating stern extending therefrom, an actuator button arranged to rotatably embrace said stem and seat against the cup of the valve body, the stem and button having a iiow passageway system therebetween extending from the cup of the valve body along the stern and through the button to the atmosphere, one portion of the passageway system forming a groove in the cupshaped body around and concentric to the rotating axisI of the button and located under the seat of the button on the valve body, another portion of the passageway system forming slots in the valve body on opposite sides of the stem, said concentric groove connecting with one of the slots at an end thereof and connecting with the other of said slots intermediately of the ends thereof, and a lug on the seat of the button and shaped to complementally engage and arrange to be moved through said concentric groove during rotation of the button,

6. A valve mechanism comprising a cup-shaped valve body and an actuating stem extending therefrom, an actuator button arranged to rotatably embrace said stern and seat against lthe cup of the valve body, the stem and button having a flow passageway system therebetween extending from the cup of the valve body along the stem and through the button to the atmosphere, one portion of the passageway system forming a groove in the cupshaped body around and concentric to the rotating axis of the button and located under the seat of the button on the valve body, another portion of the passageway system forming slots in the valve body on opposite sides of the stern, said concentric groove connecting with one of the slots at an end thereof and connecting with the other of said slots intermediately of the ends thereof, still another portion of the passageway system forming spaced grooves extending circumferentially of the stem and an expansion chamber in which the grooves terminate, and a lug on the seat of the button and shaped to complementally engage and arranged to be moved through said concentric groove during rotation of the button.

7. A valve mechanism comprising a valve body and an actuating stem extending therefrom, an actuator button rotatably mounted on said stem and seated against the valve body, the stem and button having a flow passageway system therebetween extending from the valve body along the stern and through the button to the atmosphere, one portion of the passageway system forming a groove in the body concentric to the rotating axis of the button and located under the seat of the button of the valve body, another portion of the passageway system forming slots in the valve body on opposite sides of the stem, said concentric groove connecting with one of the slots at an end thereof and connecting with the other of said slots intermediately of the ends thereof, still another portion of the passageway system forming spaced grooves extending circumferentially of the stem and an expansion chamber in which the grooves terminate, and a lug on the seat of the button shaped to complementally engage and arranged to be moved through said concentric groove during rotation of the button.

8. A valve mechanism comprising a. valve body and an actuating stem extending therefrom, an actuator button rotatably mounted on said stem and seated against the valve body, the stem and button having a flow passageway system therebetween extending from the valve body along the stem and through the button to the atmosphere, one portion of the passageway system forming a groove in the body concentric to the rotating axis of the button and located under the seat of the button on-the valve body, another portion of the Vpassageway system forming at least one slot in the valve body, said concentric groove connecting with the slot, still another portion of the passageway system forming spaced grooves extending circumferentially of the stem and an expansion chamber in which the grooves terminate, and means on the button to be moved through said concentric groove during rotation of the button.

9. A valve mechanism comprising a valve body and an actuating stem extending therefrom, an actuator but# ton arranged to rotatably embrace said stem, the stem and button having a flow passageway system there# between extending from the valve body along the stem and through the button to the atmosphere, one portion of the passageway system forming a groove in the body around and concentric to the rotating axis of the button, still another portion of the passageway system forming spaced grooves extending circumferentially of the stem and an expansion chamber in which the grooves terminate, and a lug on the button shaped to complementally engage and arranged to be moved through said concentric groove during rotation of the button.

UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the le of this patent 2,686,652 Carlson et al. Aug. 17, 1954 2,693,983 Howell Nov. 9, 1954 2,734,773 Ivins Feb. 14, 1956 

